California AB2538: Medi-Cal: hospice providers: forms.

What the bill says

An act to add Section 14132.752 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: hospice providers: forms. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through fee-for-service or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions…

From the committee substitute text, June 29, 2026:

An act to add Section 14132.752 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: hospice providers: forms. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through fee-for-service or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for the licensure of hospice agencies by the State Department of Public Health to provide hospice services to an individual who is experiencing the last phase of life due to a terminal illness, as defined. Under existing law, hospice services are covered under the Medi-Cal program, subject to utilization controls and the availability of federal financial participation, as specified. The State Department of Health Care Services administratively requires, effective March 2, 2026, a hospice provider to use a certain online attestation form to notify the department when a Medi-Cal fee-for-service member has elected to receive hospice services, as specified. This bill would codify and recast those departmental procedures relating to the online form. The bill would require the hospice provider to submit the online form within 5 calendar days after the member’s election to receive hospice services, and to submit the form in conjunction with counseling, receipt …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Alexandra Macedo (R, AD33) · primary sponsor
• Shannon Grove (R, SD12)

Latest actions

1. August 17, 2026: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2. August 17, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5497.).
3. August 17, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
4. August 4, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
5. August 3, 2026: From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
6. June 29, 2026: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. June 25, 2026: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 24).
8. June 10, 2026: In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
9. May 27, 2026: Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
10. May 14, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5056.)

Votes

• Assembly 3rd Reading AB2538 Macedo et al. By Grove (August 17, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 24, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
• AB 2538 Macedo Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session (May 14, 2026): 77 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (May 6, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar (April 21, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB2538?

AB2538 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Medi-Cal: hospice providers: forms.

What does AB2538 do?

In its own words: An act to add Section 14132.752 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: hospice providers: forms. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through fee-for-service or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions…

What is the status of AB2538?

In committee as of August 17, 2026. Latest action: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. (August 17, 2026).

Who sponsored AB2538?

Alexandra Macedo (R, AD33), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for AB2538?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2538